In 1945, the parade of major leaguers returning from military service after World War II started as a trickle but quickly became a flood in 1946 when over 300 players returned to their teams. Fans rejoiced - things were getting back to normal.

In 1946 superstars Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio, Stan Musial and other leading players came back to reclaim their jobs. The excitement was high, plus the return meant national prosperity was just around the corner.

Attendance soared as players moved from the war zone to the ballparks. 12 of the then 16 major league teams set new records in attendance, and a record number of 18.5 million fans attended big-league games.

New Yankee president Larry MacPhail installed lights at Yankee Stadium, staged fashion shows, built a first-ever ladies' lounge, and a new clubhouse at the cost of the then unheard-of sum of $600,000. It all paid off when the Yankees set a new attendance record with 2,265,512.

One of the worst wartime stories that made headline news concerned Frank Crespi, a hometown player who performed solidly at second base for the St Louis Cardinals from 1938 thru 1942.

He hit .279 with 24 doubles and scored 85 runs in '41, and at age 24 was drafted into the US Military after the '42 season was over. His brother was killed in the war, making Frank Crespi the sole support of his mother. Although he was eligible for a hard-ship deferment he passed it up to serve his country proudly.

While at Fort Riley, Kansas, he broke a leg in a tank accident. While in the hospital the leg was broken again when two orderlies had a 'wheelchair race.' Then, a nurse misread his leg medication, batted it in an extremely strong acid, which ate the leg down to the bone.

Hank Greenberg, Tigers 44... Ted Williams, Red Sox 38... Charlie Keller, Yankees 30... Pat Seerey, Indians 26... Joe DiMaggio, Yankees 25... Sam Chapman, Philadelphia A's 20... Tommy Henrich, Yankees 19... Bobby Doerr, Red Sox 18... Rudy York, Red Sox 17...

Chet Laabs, St Louis Browns 16... Jeff Heath, Browns 16... Aaron Robinson, Yankees 16... Stan Spence, Wash Senators 16... Wall Judnich, Browns 15... Roy Cullenbine, Tigers 15... Vern Stephens, Browns 14... Ken 'Kenny' Keltner, Indians 13...

Dick Wakefield, Tigers 12... Joe 'Flash' Gordon, Yankees 11... Johnny Lindell, Yankees 10... Hank Edwards, Indians 10... Nick Etten, Yankees 9... Les Fleming, Indians 8... Eddie Lake, Tigers 8...

1946 National League Home Run Leaders:

Ralph Kiner, Pirates 23... Johnny Mize, NY Giants 22... Enos Slaughter, Cardinals 18... Del Ennis, Phillies 17... Stan Musial, Cardinals 16... Ron Northey, Phillies 16... Grady Hatton, Reds 14... Jack Grahan, NY Giants 14... George 'Whitey' Kurowski, Cardinals 14...

Willard Marshall, NY Giants 13... Ernie Lombardi, Giants 12... Eddie Lukon, Reds 12... Andy Seminick, Phillies 12... Frank McCormick, Phillies 11... Buddy Blattner, NY Giants 11... Pete Reiser, Brooklyn Dodgers 11... Ed Stevens, Dodgers 10... Jim Tabor, Phillies 10...

Erv DusaK, Cardinals 9... Dixie Walker, Dodgers 9... Walter Cooper, NY Giants 8... Phil Cavarretta, Cubs 8... Frank 'Frankie' Gustine, Pirates 8... Bill Nicholson, Cubs 8... Ray Mueller, Reds 8... Danny Litwhiler, Braves 8...

baseballhistorian.com - The History of Baseball

Born in Gastonia, North Carolina, he broke into profession ball with Chattanooga of the Southern Association in 1934. For that team in 1935, Buddy Lewis batted .303, hit 32 doubles and had 85 RBIs. And still just 18-years old, was called up by Washington for the final games of the season.

Lewis batted .291 and scored an even 100 runs in his first full year in the majors, 1936. He set a modern day record by lining 15 hits in four straight games - July 25-28, 1937, and was picked for his first of two All-Star games in 1938. Defensively he paced all American League third basemen in assists, fielding range, double plays and errors in 1939, while hitting .319 and led the league with 16 triples.

The 6-ft, 1-inch, 175-pounder scored over 100 runs four times - 1936-1938 and 1940 - including a career-best 122 in '38. From 1936 thru 1940, he batted .291, .314, .296, .319, .317, lined over 20 doubles seven times, including a career-high 35 in 1937... and the speedy Lewis scampered for 10 or more triples in 5 different seasons. He collected more career walks, 573, than strike outs 303.

After ringing up a .297 batting mark, with 29 doubles, 11 triples, 9 home runs in 1941, Lewis joined the United States Army in November. For flying dangerous missions in the Burmese Theater, John Kelly Lewis, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Discharged on July 23, 1945, he was in a Senators' uniform just 4 days later. Now playing an outfield position, he hit .333 in 69 games.

He led all outfielders in assists in 1946 and was chosen for his second All-Star game in '47.

Buddy Lewis career stats: .297 BA, 1563 hits in 5261 at bats, 249Ds, 93Ts, 71Hrs, 830 Runs, 607 RBIs, 83 stolen bases in 1349 games... attended Wake Forest University.

note: this page has moved to: http://www.baseballhistorian.com/fans_favorites.cfm?hero=1034